“You yourselves bear me witness,that I said, I am not the Christ (Messiah), but, I have been sent before Him.” John 3:28

Each week either on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, I have the joy of visiting the sweetest saint on earth. I pull into the driveway of her apartment building, expecting to either meet her in the dining room for lunch with she and her friends, or I’ll find her waiting at the entrance for a ride over to one of her favorite restaurants – just the two of us, she’ll say. Those are her cabin fever days when she needs some fresh air.

Once we’re seated with lunch before us, she’ll tell me about her adventures over the past week. “Can we stop by Tuesday Morning to pick up some good chocolate today?” She has asked on numerous occasions recently. One week she told me a story, her green eyes dancing. Seems she has discovered when she goes over to pay a short visit with her friends in skilled nursing, she has had some positive feedback that the visits were so special and enjoyable.

I muse at her enthusiastic surprise. Of course those dear folks are glad to see you, I’d explain. You’re not a needle poker, or pill giver. And what you bring doesn’t come from the kitchen. They are delighted that another soul other than family or foe has taken the time to walk all the way down the hall to see them! Imagine! She does imagine. Not too many years ago, she was sitting in one of those tiny rooms in a chair beside a single bed, her beloved husband of sixty years lying in the middle of it.

On this last visit she and I dined out at La Madeline near her home. My heart was heavy that day. She was patient to hear of one of my friends moving to hospice care this week. She’s my age, I sighed. But does your friend know the Lord, she asked me, leaning way in; concern written all over her face. Because, if she does, she ought not be afraid! Heaven is a wonderful place! Yes, I told her. My friend, a relatively new Believer, is at peace. She knows Jesus.

Then she shared her story. Sad, yes, but so much better. Her best friend of nearly fifty years has released her husband, she said. Good, I replied. Her ninety year old husband has been existing in a hospital bed in their two bedroom apartment, filled to the brim with all their furniture and treasures they simply couldn’t part with when they down-sized five years ago.

Now, her husband has her permission to pass into glory, unhindered. She asked her best friend, Wanda, if she had funeral services in order? Did she know what her husband would want? A memorial? Where? Wanda was befuddled. I have no clue, she told her.

She sat down with her dear friend, and over the past few days tenderly walked her down the long last days hall with her, down to the florist choice, hymn choice and where she wants the service. This was now familiar ground for her. Yet, I know she was careful to let this be her friend’s husband’s service. These were their wishes, not hers.

” He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

On the way back to her apartment a light went off in my head. I turned and looked at her. These are the very reasons you are still here at the feisty age of eighty-nine! You are still here on earth to go through these hard days with Wanda! You’re here to bring a bit of chocolate, sunshine and smiles to your friends at skilled nursing! Plus, you now understand heaven and all its joys! She wore radiance as a silk scarf around her neck the whole time we talked. Talking of dying and suffering are hard when you don’t know where you’re going afterward, she said, radiant.

You were made for such a time as this!

This past Friday’s Bible Study lesson had focused on John the Baptist, the forerunner for Jesus. After Jesus had been baptized, called out His disciples, and began ministering, teaching and healing folks, John the Baptist’s disciples were a bit jealous that Jesus was now getting all the attention. But, his purpose had been accomplished. He had announced the coming of One greater than he; he had called the people to repentance, and he had baptized the Messiah. Purpose fulfilled.

I bent over and gave my mom a genuine hug. You are so ready! But not yet, Lord! There’s still much the Father has for you to do! Right here! Where you live!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” II Corinthians 1:3-4

Father, thank you for this season to enjoy my mother. It is a joy to watch her be exactly where you want her; to witness her love for life, for her friends, and most of all, for her Savior! And yes, Lord, I know I’m very blessed to have her! In Jesus’ name, Amen

Because you all have been such faithful followers to this overly quiet blog site, it is time some things need to change! When I first started writing this blog a few years ago, I had envisioned giving a message of encouragement to women, with the intent of directing hearts in a closer walk with the Lord. Somehow I lost focus on style and content. Fear took over my writing. I lost confidence in writing, constantly worried that I would write something that would tarnish the Lord’s name or that I would not convey Truth accurately. The saying “If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time” certainly applied. Blog writing/publishing dwindled to nearly nothing.

This past year, 2018, was the year of overcoming fear. I wrote of the time I was blindsided by a dog who was merely protecting his owner, but I had to dwell in his kingdom for a week. I had never experienced such paralyzing fear. The Lord gave me Deuteronomy 31:8:

“And the Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear, or be dismayed.”

I camped on that promise, that command to not fear, for weeks before returning to my friend’s home in another state to stay for about four days. I honestly went in to my spirit and soul and physically said, “I choose not to be afraid of this dog. I choose to overcome my fear!” Oh, believe me, I had to put on my Big Girl panties and claim it over and over and over!

In God’s great grace and mercy, another mutual friend decided she also wanted to visit our friend and witness her son’s law school graduation. Since our friend did not have accommodations for two guests in her home, we all agreed that getting a hotel room was best. Talk about relief! Whenever we all got together at our friend’s home, we sat on her comfortable front porch admiring the purple colored mountains in the distance and the variety of birds flocking to her many feeders in the yard while the dog enjoyed his kingdom inside the house.

Before we left, I asked my friend’s son to help me feed his dog a treat so that I could stand in front of this strong pit bull without my heart beating out of my chest. Mission accomplished! So it was that after that time spent with my friend and her son all fear of dogs vanished. Completely.

The other huge fear to be faced head on was writing. In late December the Lord gave me such clarity about my writing and His desire for me to convey His truth to women in all walks of life. Pray, He told me. Then write. In obedience I’m moving forward. After I began writing again, in His great grace and love, the Lord directed me to a wonderful friend who has agreed to edit my work! To Him be the glory!

Who drove that fear of writing away? Marisol. This young lady approached me just before our ladies Wednesday night meeting got started and I promise you she was WEARING confidence!

“Put on the full armor of God….” Ephesians 6:11

“…Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience…”

Colossians 3:12

Jesus confidence, I must add. Squared shoulder tall, dancing eyes and direct, she said something to the effect that she was no longer allowing the enemy to push her down, especially when it came to her job. No, Marisol is not one of those angry confronters. Not at all. She prays before approaching. She speaks softly yet…..what other word can I use? Mettle. I was inspired by her quiet strength. She knows in whom she believes and she walks straight up, smiling, radiant and aware of whose she is.

I grabbed on to her spirit and hugged her and decided right then and there I was not going to let fear overcome me anymore.

It is time to make public the things the Lord is teaching me. So I put my bottom to the chair, even on a bright sunny January day and compose a message of encouragement to you, urging you to be confident in your walk, your countenance, your words, your heart. If you say you are a follower of the Lord, then it is time to let our manner, walk and talk say so.

“walk in a manner worthy of the Lord to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God….” Colossians 1:10

So thank you. Thank you for hanging on with me in my messy imperfections and attempts at making your reading meaningful. May the Lord use this blog post to encourage your heart and draw you much closer in your walk with the Lord. Remember He loves you so very much!

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 7:14

You, Jesus, are IMMANUEL, God with me. At all times. Down the aisles of Kroger, looking for my mother; looking for her particular brand of chocolate cookie; getting the right size cereal box. God with me in the car searching for the right house after my GPS has said, “You’ve reached your destination.” In the dark. God with me when one of my single moms calls as I’m driving in rush hour/Christmas shopping traffic on the other side of town. God with me. Absolutely.

A normal Tuesday with Mom, with some added errands and a phone call, I hoped Jesus wasn’t tired of hearing from this silly sheep, because I called on Him every single time I needed His help and every single time He led and every nearly every single time I whispered, “Thank you, Jesus.”

This promise that Immanuel, meaning God with us, is the foundation for your joy! It is a true, real promise that can be fleshed out through your faith, your trust, your belief in Him who said it and it came true! Rejoice, Beloved, knowing that your Savior will surely never leave nor ever forsake you! Do you rest in that fact? Do you remember to call on Him? Let not Immanuel just be words in a Christmas song sung only on Christmas Eve only to be forgotten when you get home.

“…..He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

After driving around town I managed to pull into a familiar parking lot and park and talk to my single mom safely, undistracted, for as long as she needed. In her struggle to co-parent her troubled teen daughter with her former husband, she admitted to needing to lower her expectations, to consciously be thankful for all the little things she gets to do with her daughter and stop dwelling on the poor behavior. I think there will be less triggers with my daughter and my ex-husband if I choose to back off some when I’m with them, she said. Wise words. Praying it is practiced.

Breathing prayers for wisdom as we talked, the Lord reminded me of the disciples He called to be His everyday companions for about three years. Were they the cream of the Jewish crop? Had they been schooled in the best rabbinical synagogues of the day? Hardly. They were simple men, schooled in common crafts of fishing, tax collecting, and studying. “Consider Matthew,” I said to my sweet mom. “He was a repulsed tax collector! Can you imagine the treatment he got from the other disciples? And Jesus chose Him! Jesus was, in effect, saying to all twelve of these guys, “look to me for your source of help, and do this. Love one another.” Right. In spite of their former jobs before they were called to follow this……this man who tells them to love one another? What I think I was trying to tell my mom was……in loving your wayward daughter, find ways to love her through her poor choices and behavior and then……be thankful.

And she agreed. She is growing in her trust in the Lord. We were merely edifying one another in the fact that our joy in the Lord, Immanuel, comes from calling on His name for all help, and giving thanks when it comes. The thankful heart affirms in our heart that He is with us. Immanuel and in His presence is true fullness of joy!

“ In Thy presence is fullness of joy!”Psalm 16:11

This Christmas season, may we all consciously give thanks as we call on Immanuel to help us every step of the way and to be more real to us as we celebrate His birth. May there be meaning! Resounding joy that God became flesh and dwelt among us!

“Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth….Come before Him with Joyful singing!” Psalm 100:1-2

The other day I had an overwhelming desire to enter the church just to lift up hands in praise to my Father. That desire doesn’t happen often, but that Sunday I didn’t care that I was entering church alone, or that it was dark, or that I would see friends I hadn’t seen in a long while because I was now worshiping in another congregation. No, I just wanted to worship. And I did! Deep peace flooded my soul and spirit. I met the Lord there in that space and it was profound.

Back in the dailyness of life, stress has clouded my thoughts with so much going on; or, I admit, much is going on that I’m allowing in to the day. Oh, how I have wanted to grab a huge chunk of morning minutes to write, to compose some devotional thoughts that would minister to someone else. But distractions and urgent pulls drew me from this person to that meeting to that errand to that meal to on and on and on. Primarily, I didn’t have the commitment to sit in the chair and write no matter what swirled around me.

One of the biggest distractions in my husband and my life right now is the imminent graduation of our younger son from Navy boot camp. Huge accomplishment for this twenty-eight year old who chose this path! Along with preparing to fly up to Great Lakes to witness this proud moment, I am still preparing for weekly ladies Bible Study.

Isn’t it like the enemy to slink down into our thoughts at our weakest moments, especially if we are intent on following the Lord. This past Monday I was reading a list of things a recruit needs to prepare for before entering boot camp, as well as the long list families need to remember before departing for the graduation ceremony. And there in highlighted paragraphs were words the enemy knew would rattle my world. Things that my son knew he needed to square up with his recruit commander and really were things only he could take care of. But in this loss of sleep, constantly distracted state, I let some of the statements shake me up. But not too much, for I had been camping in Joshua and parts of Deuteronomy and etching in my mind the command,

“be very strong and courageous.”

So…..as some doubts crept into my mind, I shot back with “be strong and courageous” over and over. Yet, I still struggled. In the wee hours of pre-dawn a couple of days ago, I thanked the Lord for some specific things, and do you know the struggle of doubt began to leave my mind! Gratefulness. Thanksgiving. Such a balm to the Lord! Oh, how He wants to be praised! Oh, how our Lord craves to be acknowledged for all He is doing in our lives! He wants a thank-you! Listen to this:

“….to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:12. To the praise of HIS glory!

In preparing for the lesson on the book of Joshua, the key word is possession. The Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, were to go in and POSSESS the Promised Land. It would involve conflict then conquest. It is never a comfortable road when truly following the Lord. After Christ, we are to POSSESS all the spiritual blessings he has given us! But we Western minded Believers really don’t know much about conflict and conquest. Our enemy is not flesh and blood but the spiritual powers that we cannot see, but surely are aware of. Satan invades our mind and spirit in the form of fear, doubt, despair, depression. And he is so delighted when we just languish there, forgetting to don our war paint! Failing to call on the power of the Lord to deliver us and forgetting to give the Lord praise and glory for everything in our lives, including our next breath!

So I went over to Ephesians 6 and saw the very same admonition the Lord gave Joshua before entering the Promised Land:

“be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might!” Ephesians 6:10.

Be strong. We have to do something. Strength just doesn’t come over us. We consciously say out loud I choose to be strong in the Lord! We tell the Lord we need Him. We open our mouths in praise and gratitude before Him! We turn off the news, the radio, the podcasts, put away the reading material, all that turns our minds away from the One who knows and loves us best! We moment by moment breathe in and out the Holy Spirit’s leading and we lean in to His promises and power and it is a battle! And the Lord is the victor. So then we praise Him with a thank-you song of praise!

Oh, delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart! Oh, how He desires that closer walk with you! Let it begin today!

And you know what? God totally has my son! He reminded me that He has forgiven him of his past; He is leading him onward and through the next part of his life. God is in control of his life. Is He in control of yours?

Save for……the finished work of Christ on the cross. Now that’s a bonafide churchy phrase if I ever spelled one out!

Street language would be – save for…….the fact that Jesus Christ, who is God’s Son, came here to earth as a man to live the perfect life then die on the cross for my sin-sick soul. Saved because I believe who He says He is and what He did for me is true. I cannot save myself. I cannot have a relationship with my Creator God without trusting in His Son. I cannot be saved from eternity in hell unless I trust in the fact, in the truth that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, came to earth to live then die and rise again so that I might have that promised eternal life in heaven with him.

I could indeed do good works. I have done good works. Sung nice songs. Written nice words. But on the nights that I know down in the very gut of my soul that the Holy Spirit showed up in the room with our moms, I know I didn’t do a darn thing except show up. I showed up to love some moms. No questions asked. No judgment. I just hugged, prayed, teared up often, and loved deep. And knew it very well. Because I was undone the next day. Totally spent.

Why in the world do I think I have something profound to say? These moms just need to hear the truth. The truth is that they are loved; that Jesus died for them; that they can have their sins forgiven when they trust in Him; that their life will count always when they trust in Jesus daily for all their needs. He wants to meet them where they are in their life. And he will.

I want to be strong for these fragile women. I want them to trust in Jesus; to read His Word; to stay in His word. To move more away from the world and toward His truths. His love. Obedience to Him – which is to love Him with all their heart and soul and mind and to love others as themselves.

To forsake the world’s lust and empty pleasures. To live for Him. Always.

But. I cannot hold their hand. When they text that they slept in last Sunday; that they didn’t seem to get to church all summer; that they are back with Mr. I-Know-he’s-not-right-for-me; I have to hold this wounded little bird with open hands. I cannot make her go to church any more than I can make this wounded bird well. Only God. Only the power of the Holy Spirit who truly draws us to Himself.

This morning while walking the beach I pondered a lot, as usual. Love my alone time walks on the beach. I thought of the persecuted Believers in other parts of the world; even here in the US. What do they have that is missing in my life?

PASSION.

For the persecuted, Jesus is all they have. When the Voice Of the Martyrs worker was put in prison for sharing the gospel in Sudan, he thought he would be there a few days. https://youtu.be/2zEiiZi2DKk. Turned in to more than a year. What did he come out of there with? A closer walk with Jesus. It was truly him and the Lord for over a year. Nothing else. No one else. I am too comfortable. Too apathetic. Too much ease. I have more than I need.

Oh, Father, I need to remember that if you did take all away from me; the beach walks, Doves Rest, my husband, my children, my sisters in Christ, my massage, my mani/pedi, I would have you. And You would be enough.

“…….I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them be rubbish in order that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8

“…..not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25

This morning I gazed at our dining table that seats six, marveling at how in January of this year, three of us sat at one end of the table eager to begin the first Community Bible Study. We prayed. We shared some of our lives. We read the Scripture from week one in the study book Open your Bible. We prayed and hugged and wondered. Would the Lord indeed bring more friends to the table?

We hoped we would see His hand in this fledgling beginning.

I continued to gaze at the table. In early March God brought Sherry with her friend Terry. Sherry wanted to return, but her husband’s health pulled her away for a number of weeks. She hungered for this time. We promised to keep her in the loop. Terry’s life was full and getting fuller. She enjoyed the study, but we have not seen her since that first visit.

Wendy came in March. She brought her grief and tears. We sat and listened and prayed for wisdom as to how to comfort her. God heard us and brought yet two more to the table. Violet and Suzann, new to the table, had no idea what God was up to! Did any of us? Yet, we each look back and see. We see how He brought Violet from California; Suzann from a neighboring city for the purpose of touching Wendy, who had come from Ohio. At the first tear fall, they knew the sorrow that weighed Wendy down for so long. They reached across the dining table, touched her hand and said, “Grief Share saved my life.” Eventually it saved Wendy’s.

Continuing to gaze at the table this morning, I’m reminded of Pam’s coming. Her needs were so great. We hugged and prayed for her. She had to return to her home state to rescue another granddaughter. We kept in touch. Over the summer she returned with granddaughter in her secure guardianship. So many more hurdles, yet. Pam knows this meeting in the Word, the Fellowship, the Love is her lifeblood. She makes our meeting a priority.

Throughout the late spring and into early summer, God brought Sam, Pat, Mari, another Nancy, and Sharon. Others had come to visit; they shared, were prayed through, but their lives are preventing them from coming each week. We added them to our little directory. How can we not?

Beginning in late July, we had to move away from the table. We were overjoyed that now we who had put our feet under the dining table were all coming at once! From three to five to six, then seven squeezed around, all making room for one more. But when ten came through the door, we all knew. It was time to move to the couches and cushioned chairs of the den, bringing dining chairs to fill in the circle. Ten then eleven of us! All regulars! Be still my heart.

The question was asked. What have you learned?

What have you taken home with you? The unconditional acceptance. The love. The prayers. The “one anothers.” The “fellowship of the mat.” Just knowing there are folks praying for me. And in the hour and a half of our closing meeting before a much needed short break, we knew, as we talked through II Timothy 3 and Hebrews 6:19 that the Holy Spirit was truly present. He was comforting each of us as we gathered round one fighting cancer, and lifted up others with health issues, friends in need, and as we closed reciting the Lord’s Prayer, as we had come to do, it was all we could do to just breathe.

We were each so aware of His Presence.

Before the ladies come up the stairs to our home, each chair is touched with a word of prayer. The lesson is prayed over continually. He is truly the reason we gather together. Yes, we fellowship. We share prayer concerns, but we are challenged in the Word and reminded how much our Father loves us and values us and wants us to want Him.

When you yearn for a Bible study with women, He hears the deep desire of your heart.

You don’t need a Bible School degree, or even the most popular Bible Study book by the most popular author! You just need a teachable heart and your Bible and He will gladly be there with you and one or two friends! He wants us to gather together to study His word. He will make it possible.

Remember to give Him all the credit.

As I prayed for His will this day, moving my eyes away from the table and onto the chairs around the den I wondered what His plans were for our new study of the survey of the Bible. Who will He bring? I know there are other ladies in our community who want to hear of His love for them. So we are praying for others to invite and in this interim time we will continue to pray for one another and keep in touch. It’s what we ladies do best!

God bless you as you reach out to your friends in your community to tell them about the wonderful love of the Father!

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

Psalm 34:4

While camping in the Old Testament I’ve noticed something about who has really fought some battles and who should get the credit for the victories. Whenever the Philistines drew up in battle array against the Israelite army King David would do something first, maybe even before putting on his sword. He would “inquire of the Lord.” And the Lord would inform David of whether to fight and even gave him the battle plan!

Take a look at Second Samuel 5:17-19. “When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David King over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek out David; and when David heard of it, he went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines came and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim. Then David inquired of the Lord, saying “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.”

Was David asking permission to fight a battle? He had been fighting battles for years, and really, though he had just been anointed King over Israel, he knew the Lord. He remembered all the times the Lord had protected him and his flock from prey. He remembered all the times that the Lord had been his shield from the searching eyes of King Saul. He had been “inquiring of the Lord” for many years. This was a habit!

David had an ongoing relationship with His Lord. He knew the Lord would be with him in these battles. All David had to do was…….inquire of Him.

Look a little further down in the chapter at verses 22-25 for a very creative battle plan: “Now the Philistines came up once again and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim. And when David inquired of the Lord, He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. And it shall be when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the Lord will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” Then David did so, just as the Lord had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines.”

God is not ever a God of routine or habit. He uses creative approaches to keep His children dependent on Him; trusting Him; obeying Him. He wants us, His children to ask and obey His instruction so that He gets the glory for the end result.

Did all the kings of Israel inquire of the Lord before going out to battle? King Saul sought the Lord at first, but over time he took matters into his own hand. At times he even sought the counsel of a medium rather than inquiring of the Almighty God. I Chronicles 10:13-14 confirms “So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the Lord, because of the word of the Lord which he did not keep; and also because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it, and did not inquire of the Lord. Therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.”

As you go about your day, ask the Lord for how He wants you to deal with issues that come up. He wants to answer you! He wants you to trust Him and obey Him! Then give Him the glory!

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From whence shall my help come?

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to slip; he who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade on your right hand.

The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will protect you from all evil. He will keep your soul.

The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.

Psalm 121

Thank you, Lord, that you want me to ask You for guidance. Thank you that You willingly give it! You are a good, good Father! Amen